Homecoming at Southern has never been a single afternoon. It is a week of reunions, receptions, tastings, galas and hard-earned bragging rights, stretching from the parade route on Harding Boulevard to the halftime lights at A.W. Mumford Stadium. The colleges, alumni chapters and student organizations behind these events have built a full week, and much of it raises scholarship and program support for Southern students. Here is how it unfolds.
Sunday, September 27
2026 SU Homecoming Parade 1:00 p.m., starting on Harding Boulevard
Marching bands, floats, Greek and student organizations, equestrian units and community partners set the tone for the entire week. Bring the family, claim your spot early along the route, and be ready for candy.
Homecoming Family Reunion: Gospel & R&B Experience 4:00 p.m., Amphitheater Lawn
An evening of gospel and R&B, food trucks, local vendors and fellowship on The Bluff. Vendor registration proceeds support the Southern University Student Government Association and its student life programming, and student entrepreneurs receive vendor space at no cost so they can showcase their businesses to the Jaguar community.
Thursday, October 1
Valdry Center Speaker Series: “DEI is DEAD, Long Live Human Rights” 1:00 p.m., Valdry Center for Philanthropy, 598 Harding Boulevard, and streaming on YouTube and Facebook Live
Dr. Emmett D. Carson, social innovator and founding CEO of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, examines how and why DEI programs unraveled and whether a human rights framework offers philanthropy and the nonprofit sector a more durable path forward. The session is complimentary.
Friday, October 2
Homecoming Alumni Day Party 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., hosted by the Southern University Alumni Federation
Music, vendors, giveaways and nonstop Jaguar energy, with proceeds raising scholarship funds for Southern students. Tent packages and branded tent spaces are available for graduating classes, businesses, organizations and Greek letters.
The Prowl: Celebrating 40 Years of Excellence 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Raising Cane’s River Center
The College of Nursing and Allied Health marks four decades of preparing healthcare professionals who serve Louisiana and beyond. The evening honors alumni and healthcare partners, showcases the impact of philanthropy on students, and generates scholarship support for the College.
5th Annual Vino on the Bluff 6:30 p.m., Leon R. Tarver II Center
Back, bolder and Bluff-grown. Curated wine and whiskey tastings featuring “The 801 Collection,” S.U.N. Beef farm-to-table bites, live entertainment, a silent auction and VIP experiences. Proceeds benefit student scholarships in the College of Agricultural, Human and Environmental Sciences.
24th Annual Gala on the Bluff Doors open at 7:30 p.m., L’Auberge Casino Hotel Baton Rouge
The College of Business welcomes alumni, community leaders and supporters for a semi-formal evening of music, food and recognition, all in service of a $100,000 scholarship goal for business students.
Saturday, October 3
Southern vs. University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 6:00 p.m., A.W. Mumford Stadium
All roads lead back to The Bluff. The Jaguars host the Golden Lions under the lights to close out Homecoming week.
At halftime, the Southern University System Foundation will present its annual check to the Southern University System. The figure represents what the Foundation raised on behalf of the System over the past fiscal year, in support of scholarships, faculty research, and programs across all five campuses.
Donors and Foundation leadership will be on the field for the presentation. If you made a gift to any Southern fund this year, it is counted in that total.
Be there
Homecoming is the one week a year when the whole family comes home at once. Come for the parade, stay for the music, dress up on Friday night, and be in your seat by kickoff. Then keep going. Your giving, whether it arrives this week or in the quiet months that follow, is what carries the work forward the other fifty-one weeks of the year.
Nobody does it better.